Anorexia Nervosa is currently known to affect approximately 0.9% of the population. The last research survey to explore this dates from 2012 and therefore, it may be safe to assume that the prevalence has risen in the past decade.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia is characterized in the DSM V as a refusal to maintain a normal body weight through dietary restriction and compensatory behaviors.
Please note that normal body weight does not mean a weight that meets Body Mass Index (BMI) standards. Instead, it means efforts to maintain a weight that is not biologically appropriate and leads to medical symptoms of starvation.
These efforts include:
- Energy restriction
- Over exercise
- Purging or laxative abuse
Specific diagnostic criteria for Anorexia:
How does Anorexia Nervosa impact an individual's life?
Anorexia Nervosa can have dire consequences on a person’s physical, mental and emotional health and well-being.
Physical Impact of Anorexia:
- Amenorrhea
- Bradycardia
- Tachycardia
- Low blood pressure
- Osteopenia/osteoporosis
- Low body temperature
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Mental Impact of Anorexia:
- Decreased cognitive functioning
- Decreased concentration
- Blurry vision
- Feeling faint and weak
- Difficulty retaining information
- Aggravated sleep
Emotional Impact of Anorexia:
- Depressed mood
- Extreme mood shifts
- Isolation
- Shame
- Hopelessness
Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa
Re-feeding
The most imperative treatment for Anorexia is re-feeding. This can be done in various ways depending on the individual’s age, the support they have in place and their capacity to implement nutrition recommendations.
Our dietitians can work with families of adolescents suffering from Anorexia Nervosa by offering Family Based Treatment.
We also offer individual nutrition counseling sessions for eating disorder recovery, where the dietitians at Sööma take on a collaborative and exploratory approach to guide you in re-feeding your body.
Understanding your eating disorder
Once the brain and body begin to be renourished, a client may experience more clarity in separating themselves from their eating disorder, allowing them to recognize thoughts, urges and emotions that may contribute to disordered behaviors.
Our sessions allow individuals to identify and explore where they may get hooked on uncomfortable thoughts and emotions, leading to difficulty pursuing actions aligned with recovery.
Maintaining effective behaviors aligned with your recovery
At Sööma, we offer a multidisciplinary approach to help individuals suffering from Anorexia Nervosa truly heal from their eating disorder.
The goal of treatment is to develop a relationship with food that isn’t one where you’re either fused with your eating disorder or in recovery. Rather, we strive to help you understand your eating disorder, your vulnerabilities and build confidence in your intuition so that you can develop a new relationship with food and your body.
Contact us to learn more about our treatment approaches and how we can help you!